Data processing method and data processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A data processing apparatus comprising a display device for displaying the data; the first recording device for recording the large volume bit map data; the second recording device recording an index data formed as a two-dimensional image obtained by rendering the large volume bit map data; the first data processing device for reading the large volume bit map data from the first recording device and applying the image processing to the-large volume bit map data; the second data processing device for reading the large volume bit map data from the first recording device, forming the two-dimensional image data by rendering the large volume bit map data and transferring the image data to the display device; the third data processing device for transmitting the index data to the display device; and the input device for sending the instructions to the first, second and third data processing devices.

This is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/086,714, filedMar. 4, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the data processing method and the dataprocessing apparatus thereof.

In case of applying X-ray Computed Tomography (hereinafter referred toas X-ray CT) to non-contact internal dimensional measurement, variouskinds of three-dimensional image processing are applied to thethree-dimensional bit map data obtained by stacking multi-layeredtomographic images defined as two-dimensional bit map data. Thistechnology is used in the medical field, and described in thepublication (for example, Three-dimensional image processing in MedicalScience by Yasuzo Shuudou, Corona Publishing Co., 1995).

In many cases, for various kinds of data processing forthree-dimensional image processing, the following procedures are used.That is, the user supplies commands to the program and the program inresponse to those commands processes the data (this is calledinteractive).

In this interactive process, it is required to minimize the user'sadditional operations due to his or her erroneous operation. For thisreason, many programs provides an undo (data and/or operation recovery)function. This function means that the data before processing is storedtemporarily, and the data after processing is replaced by the databefore processing when the undo command is issued. The user who hasnoticed his or her erroneous operation can cancel his or her latestoperation by inputting the undo command and restart his or her operationfrom this point. If several sets of data before processing could bestored temporarily, the user can cancel several latest operationsbackward and restart the operation at any point.

In association with the function described above, Japanese PatentLaid-Open Number 6-251078 (1995) discloses an information processingapparatus in which scale-down image data corresponding to the image datarepresented as bit map data are arranged and the list of scale-downimage data are shown and made selected. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Number6-202612 (1995) discloses a graphic editor apparatus which provides adisplay part having a display area for the image edition allowing theuser to edit the image and a target object image display area fordisplaying plural screens of the images in process of edition work.

The prior art described above does not consider the processing of largeamount of three-dimensional bit map data over several hundreds megabyteobtained by the high resolution X-ray CT (in this specification, thedata having the volume between 100 megabyte and 1 Peta byte is calledlarge amount of data). In many cases, the volume of data is limitedbelow 1P (1 Peta byte) because the technical difficulty occurs indealing large amount of data.

The volume of the three-dimensional bit map data is proportional to thecubic of the long dimension of the image. A direct application of theapparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Number 6-251078 (1995)and the conventional method used for three-dimensional bit map operationin the conventional practical field of medical science may arise someproblems.

According to the original experiment by the inventors, in case ofdealing such large amount of three-dimensional bit map data, it isunderstood that it takes 10 minutes or longer to display fully the dataeven by the current computer performance. This is because the imageprocessing called rendering is required to display the three-dimensionalbit map data, and it may take an extended time to complete thisoperation in case that the volume of data is too large. From the user'sview, in case of displaying the data in order to confirm the content ofthe data, such an extended time is required for processing theindividual data file in order to browse the content of the individualdata.

In case of applying the technology disclosed in Japanese PatentLaid-Open Number 6-251078 (1995) to the three-dimensional bit map dataused in the field of medical science, as the time spent in generatingthe scale-down bit map data from the three-dimensional bit map data (inthis case, the volume of data is relatively small) is longer than thetime spent for rendering the original three-dimensional bit map data anddisplaying the resulting image, the time required for confirming thecontent of the file does not make any significant problem.

In the method for generating the scale-down data of the overall data setlater on to be used for search, as disclosed in Japanese PatentLaid-Open Number 6-251078 (1995), there is such a problem that thescale-down operation for the data is required to be done by the user.

In the process of large amount of three-dimensional bit map data, itsprocess itself gives rise to a problem. There may be such a conditionthat the memory space runs short if the data is stored in the memoryevery time when the process is repeated. Thus, the number of undooperations (the number of allowable operations to be cancelled) islimited.

In such a method that the rendering operations is performed and the datais displayed every time when the undo command is issued, if the numberof undo operations is larger, the fraction of the total waiting time forthe user occupied in the overall operation time becomes extremely longbecause it takes an extended time to be spent for display process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a data processingmethod and its processing apparatus enabling to display an preview imagerapidly in case of processing large amount of data.

In order to attain the above object, in the present invention, indexdata are generated by rendering the large amount of bit map data andstored in addition to the three-dimensional bit map data.

It is required to render the large amount of bit map data in order togenerate a display image. The rendering process requires an extendedperiod of time. On the contrary, by means that the two-dimensional imageresulted from the rendering process is made prepared in advance beforeaccepting the user's command for display and edit, the preview of thecontent of the data can be displayed rapidly at real-time when the userissues the command interactively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram.

FIG. 2 is a process flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a reprocess flowchart.

FIG. 4 is an example of three-dimensional bit map data format

FIG. 5 is an example of three-dimensional bit map data format

FIG. 6 is an example of index data display and selection screen.

FIG. 7 is an example of index data display and selection screen.

FIG. 8 is an example of user input and display device.

FIG. 9 is a process flowchart.

FIG. 10 is an example of three-dimensional bit map data format.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram.

FIG. 12 is a process flowchart.

FIG. 13 is an example of three-dimensional bit map data format.

FIGS. 13(A)-13(C) are examples of three-dimensional bit map dataformats.

FIG. 14 is an example of generating scale-down bit map data.

FIG. 15 is an example of scale-down bit map data display and processscreen.

FIG. 16 is an example of operating system file display screen.

FIG. 17 is an example of CAD data format.

FIG. 18 is a business flow diagram.

FIG. 19 is a business flow diagram.

FIG. 20 is a system conceptual diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

An embodiment of processing the three dimensional bit map data isdescribed below.

The outline of the processing apparatus to be used in this embodiment isnow described. FIG. 20 shows a conceptual diagram of the processingapparatus. The processing apparatus stores the data taken by the X-rayCT 501 in the storage device 502. The user issues commands to theelectronic computer 503 by the input means 506, and specifies variousoperations. The electronic computer 503 accordingly reads out thenecessary data from the memory device 502. The memory device 502 storesthe primitive 3DBMD 102, the latest 3D BMD 103, the process history data105 and the index data 106 to be described later. In response to thecommands issued from the input apparatus 506, the electronic computer503 outputs the data specified by the commands issued by the inputapparatus to the output means 505 (printer) and the display device 504(display). The electronic computer 503 can perform a editing operationfor the various data a rendering operation for data (to be describelater). The electronic computer 503 can stores the data into the memorydevice 502 if required. The concept of the overall processing apparatusis so described as above.

Next, the processing apparatus will be described concretely. At first,the image of the target object is captured by the three-dimensionalX-ray CT. The target object in this embodiment is assumed to be ametallic turbine for the automobile turbo engines (not shown). Thethree-dimensional X-ray CT is formed as such an apparatus that the X-rayis irradiated as a fan beam and the image of the target object iscaptured by detecting the X-ray transmitted through the target object isdetected by the sensors. The captured image is stored in the memorydevice (formed as a hard disk in this embodiment) as the primitivethree-dimensional bit map data (hereinafter, three-dimensional bit mapdata is referred to as 3DBMD).

Next, the primitive 3DBMD is made converted to the 3DBMD specific tothis embodiment. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the formats of the 3DBMDspecific to this embodiment.

The header of the 3DBMD 114 with index and procedural operation historyshown in FIG. 4 contains the index data recording part and next theprocedural operation history data recording part, followed by therecording part for the primitive 3DBMD. The index data represent pluraltwo-dimensional images (or a single image, if allowable) formed byviewing the primitive 3DBMD in a single direction or plural directions.In this embodiment, the data format of the index data is such a formatas to be displayed without rendering. In this embodiment, JPEG so-calledgenerally is used for this data format. It is allowed to use GIF socalled generally.

The index data is generated by forming the two-dimensional image byviewing the primitive data in a predetermined direction after obtainingthe primitive 3DBMD captured by X-ray CT. The formation of the indexdata is to render the primitive 3DBMD and generate the two-dimensionalimage. This formation is completed before browsing and processing 3DBMD.

When displaying the index data (two-dimensional image, in thisembodiment), the rendering process is not required. The volume of thedata is smaller than the volume of the primitive 3DBMD. Thus, the timespent for displaying the index data can be made shorter than the timespent for generating the two-dimensional image from the primitive 3DBMDand displaying the generated image. In addition, by means of generatingthe index data before hand, the content of the data can be confirmed ina shorter period of time than the two-dimensional data is generated fromthe 3DBMD every time when the browsing operation is attempted. Andfurthermore, by means of reading only the index data, it is allowed torefer briefly to the content of the primitive 3DBMD without reading theprimitive 3DBMD. For the large volume of 3DBMD, as the volume of itsindex data is so small, from one per several tens to one per somehundreds of the volume of 3DBMD, the volume of the index data remainsunchanged for any case.

In addition, the two-dimensional data obtained by processing theprimitive 3DBMD in the process of browsing operations are recorded intothe index data.

The procedural operation history data recording part records the historyof operations applied to the primitive 3DBMD. In case that the userrequires an image to be obtained by processing further the index datacorresponding to the state of the processed primitive 3DBMD, theprimitive 3DBMD is so processed as to be the state corresponding to theindex data, and further processed so as to be the required image.

The primitive 3DBMD with index and procedural operation history 113shown in FIG. 5 has such a data format that records the primitive 3DBMDconcurrently when storing the latest processed 3DBMD. The data formatcontains a header for the index data and next the latest 3DBMD-recordingpart followed by the procedural operation history data recording partand the primitive 3DBMD recording part. The index data 106 records therendered image of the latest 3DBMD and the rendered data obtained in theseries of procedures from the primitive 3DBMD to the latest 3DBMD as theindex data. The procedural operation history data records a series ofprocedures applied from the primitive 3DBMD to the latest 3DBMD. Thismeans that the application of the series of procedures recorded in theprocedural operation history data to the primitive 3DBMD can generatethe latest 3DBMD. According to this data format, the outline of thelatest 3DBMD can be confirmed briefly at first by displaying the indexdata. In case of attempting to regenerate the latest 3DBMD (when undothe past processing applied to the latest 3DBMD), the desired 3DBMD tobe obtained by applying the undo operation for the past processing canbe generated equivalently by applying the procedural operation historydata corresponding to the designated step to the series of pastprocedures to the primitive 3DBMD by referring to the primitive 3DBMDand the procedural operation history data.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the 3DBMD processing system 1a using two formats of 3DBMD. This system assumes that the 3DBMD isprocessed interactively by the user inputting the data processing method(commands) from the input device 2. In this embodiment, the storagedevice 502 is so configured as to includes individually the 3DBMDrecording device 5 a, the primitive, index and procedural operationhistory attached 3DBMD recording device 5 b, the index and proceduraloperation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5 c and the indexattached the latest 3DBMD 5 d, but the storage device 502 may be formedalternatively in another configuration as far as recording thoseelements of data. The electronic computer 503 is so configured as toinclude individually the index data selection means 8, the dataprocessing device 3 a and the index data display means 7 a, eachcorresponding to their specific tasks, which may be formed as a singlecomputer performing those tasks.

In response to the command input by the user, the input device 2generates the data processing command 101 and the index data selectioncommand 110. The 3DBMD processing system la has a display device 4 fordisplaying the 3D bit map display image data 104 and the index datadisplay data 109 a.

The processing system la has the following three recording devices. The3DBMD recording device 5 a records the primitive 3DBMD 102 and thelatest 3DBMD. The primitive, index and procedural operation historyattached 3DBMD recording device 5 b records the primitive, index andprocedural operation history attached 3DBMD 113. The index andprocedural operation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5 c recordsthe index and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD 114. The dataprocessing device 3 a can read out the latest 3DBMD 103, the primitive3DBMD data 102 and the procedural operation history data 105 separatelyfrom the primitive, index and procedural operation history attached3DBMD recording device 5 b. The data processing device 3 a can read outthe index data 106, the procedural operation history data 105 and theprimitive 3DBMD 102 separately from the index and procedural operationhistory attached 3DBMD recording device 5 c.

The 3DBMD processing system 1 a has the following configuration. Thedata processing device 3 a generates the recording history data 105 andthe index data 106 from the primitive 3DBMD 102 and the latest 3DBMD103. The data processing device 3 a also performs various procedures inresponse to another command. In response to the index data displaycommand 108 a, the index data display means 7 a generates the index datadisplay data 109 a from plural sets of index data 106, and transfers itto the display device 4. In response to the index data selection command110, the index data selection means 8 generates the reprocessing command111 and transfer it to the data processing device 3 a.

Next, FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart for processing the 3DBMD withoutindex data and procedural operation history data in the 3DBMD processingsystem 1 a. This flowchart shows the procedures in which the index dataand the procedural operation history data are generated along withprocessing the 3DBMD in order to speed up the plural sets of procedures(or the procedures in the next phase or later).

The data are exchanged among the individual devices shown in FIG. 1 atthe each step of the procedural flow.

At first, the user inputs the load command 201 by using the input device2. In response to the load command 201, the data processing device 3 areads in the primitive 3DBMD 102 from the 3DBMD recording device 5 a(Step 202 a). Next, the user inputs the processing command 203 by usingthe input device 2. The processing command 203 is a command fordecomposing the primitive 3DBMD 102 or extracting a part of theprimitive 3DBMD 102. In response to the processing command 203, the dataprocessing device 3 a applies image processing to the primitive 3DBMD102 (Step 204), and then generates the latest 3DBMD 103 (Step 205). Incase that the user inputs the display command 208 in this step,rendering processing is applied to the latest 3DBMD 103 in order togenerate the three-dimensional bit map display image data 104, and thenthe three-dimensional bit map display image data 104 is transferred tothe display device 4 and the latest 3DBMD 103 is displayed (Step 209).According to those procedural commands, the procedural operation historydata 105 is generated by the data processing device 3 a (Step 210). Inaddition the data processing device 3 a generate the index data from thedisplayed image (Step 211). The procedural operation history data 105and the index data 106 generated in the previous steps are stored in theindex and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5c in the format for the index and procedural operation history attached3DBMD 114 together with the primitive 3DBMD 102. The procedural stepsfrom the step 203 for accepting the procedural command to the step 211are repeated for the continuous processing. The index data 106 and theprocedural operation history data 105 are updated sequentially in theindex and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5c.

In case that the user inputs the index data review command 212 with theinput device 2, the data processing device 3 a displays a list of thestored index data 106 on the display device (Step 213).

Alternately, in case that the user inputs the index data selectioncommand 214 for selecting one of the displayed index data 106, theselected index data 106 is extracted and its magnified view is displayedon the display device 4 (step 209).

Thus, along with the procedures for applying the image processing to theprimitive 3DBMD and generating the latest 3DBMD 103, the proceduraloperation history data 105 and the index data 106 are storedsequentially.

The user inputs the save command 206 when he or she reaches the desiredlatest 3DBMD 103. The save command 206 specifies the data recordingformat. When storing the latest 3DBMD 103 currently processed, in caseof storing the current procedural operation history data 105 and theindex data 106 together with the primitive 3DBMD 102, the data storingin the format for the index and procedural operation history attached3DBMD 114 is specified, and alternatively, in case of storing thecurrent procedural operation history data 105, the index data 106 andthe primitive 3DBMD 102 as well as the current latest 3DBMD 103, thedata storing in the format for the primitive, index and proceduraloperation history attached 3DBMD 113 is specified.

If necessary, the user specifies the print-out operation for therequired image at the printing means (not shown).

The procedural flow is completed after storing the data.

For the 3DBMD without its index data 106 generated after capturing theimage, its index data 106 and procedural operation history data 105 canbe generated by executing the procedural flow described above.

In case of storing the data in the format for the primitive, index andprocedural operation history attached 3DBMD, the stored data can besupplied for the forthcoming operation allowed to start with the latest3DBMD. As the stored data includes the primitive 3DBMD, by combining theprimitive 3DBMD and the procedural operation history data, a series ofpast operations for generating the latest 3DBMD can be replayed and anystate between the primitive 3DBMD and the latest 3DBMB can be recalledas the start point of the user's operation.

In addition, in case of storing the data in the format for the index andprocedural operation history attached 3DBMD, as only the primitive3DBMD, the index data and the procedural operation history data arerecorded, the volume of the stored data can be reduced.

Next, what is described is the procedural flow performed by the 3DBMDprocessing system 1 a for displaying the desired 3DBMD promptly by usingthe index data 106 of the 3DBMD having the index data 106 and theprocedural operation history data 105 (that is, the 3DBMD having a dataformat for the index and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD114). This procedural flow is shown in FIG. 3.

At first, the user inputs the index data display command 212 by usingthe input device 2. In responsive this command, the data processingdevice 3 a extracts and reads in the index data 106 from the index andprocedural operation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5 c (Step202 b), and displays a list of index data 106 on the display device 4(Step 213).

Next, the user specifies one of the index data 106 corresponding to hisor her necessary 3DBMD in the displayed list of index data 106, andinputs the index data selection command 214 from the input device 2. Inresponse to the index data selection command 214, the data processingdevice 3 a displays a magnified image of the selected index data 106 onthe display device 4 (209 a). Next, the data processing device 3 aextracts the procedural operation history data 105 and the primitive3DBMD 102 corresponding to the extracted index data 106 from the indexand procedural operation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5 c(step 215). The procedural operation history in the extracted proceduraloperation history data 105 is applied to the primitive 3DBMD 102 (Step204). This data to which the procedural operation history corresponds tothe latest 3DBMD 103 to be obtained when the extracted index data 106was generated. The user inputs the display command 208 by using theinput device 2, and the data processing device 3 a display the renderedimage of the latest 3DBMD 103 on the display device (Step 209 b).

According to this embodiment, as the index data does not requires therendering operation when displaying the index image, it will beappreciated that the data content can be reviewed in a shorter time ofperiod than displaying the rendered image of the latest 3DBMD for theinitial display operation. As plural sets of index data can be displayedall together, it will be appreciated that the time spent for displayoperation can be made shorter than generating plural rendered images ofthe latest 3DBMD and displaying them in a single screen. As plural indexdata are stored, it will be appreciated that plural sets of the latest3DBMD can be generated from the procedural operation history data andthe primitive 3DBMD. As the plural sets of the latest 3DBMD aregenerated on demand from the procedural operation history data and theprimitive 3DBMD, it will be appreciated that the volume of the storeddata can be reduced in comparison with the case in which the plural setsof the latest 3DBMD are stored corresponding to the plural sets of indexdata.

Next, the procedural flow performed by the 3DBMD processing system 1 afor editing the 3DBMD having the index data is described. Its proceduralflow is shown in FIG. 9. The data format used in this embodiment is aformat for the primitive, index and procedural operation historyattached 3DBMD. This procedure can be also applied to the data formatfor the index and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD.

At first, in response to the load command 201 input by the user, theprocessing system reads in the index data 106 from the primitive dataand index attached 3DBMD recording device 5 b (Step 202 c), and displaystheir list (Step 213). Next, the user is required to input the indexdata selection command 214, and the index data 106 corresponding to the3DBMD to be edited is selected. It is allowed to display a magnifiedview of the index data 106 (Step 209 a). Next, the latest 3DBMD 103corresponding to the selected index data 106 is read in from theprimitive and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD recordingdevice 5 b (Step 202 e). In case of editing the index and proceduraloperation history attached 3DBMD, the latest 3DBMD 103 is generated byselecting the index data 106 at first, and then applying the proceduralhistory specified by the procedural operation history data 105 to theprimitive 3DBMD. The subsequent editing procedures are the same as thoseshown in this embodiment.

Next, in response to the procedural command 203 input by the user, thedata processing device 3 a applies the image processing to the data(Step 204). In this case, the procedural commands 203 includes theoperation for data extraction, view point rotation and display modealteration for density data. And then, the data processing unit 3 agenerates the latest 3DBMD (Step 205) and displays it on the displaydevice 4 (Step 209 b). The user, viewing this display image, inputs theprocedural command again for the further editing operation, and then theprocedural flow from the procedural command input 203 to the display 209a are repeated. Every time when the display operation 209 a isperformed, the index data 106 is generated and stored in the recordingunit. In case that the user may request to review the course of editingprocedures, the user is prompted to input the index data list displaycommand (Step 212), and then the index data list is displayed (Step213). The recording procedure for the index data 106 under edition canbe interrupted by the user setting.

Now that the user can obtain his or her desired latest 3DBMD 103 byrepeating the editing procedures described above, the user is promptedto input the save command (206). In response to the user's input of thesave command, the data contents initially loaded in the primitive dataand procedural operation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5 b areupdated with the current procedural operation history data 105, thecurrent index data 106 and the current latest 3DBMD. The data (the indexattached latest 3DBMD 115) in the user's specified data format includingthe latest 3DBMD 103 and the index data 106 for the latest 3DBMD 103 isrecorded in the index attached latest 3DBMD recording device 5 d. Incase of suspending the editing procedure, the data is not recorded intothe index attached latest 3DBMD recording unit 5 d.

FIG. 10 shows a data format for the index attached latest 3DBMD 115.This format has a header for the index data recording part followed bythe latest 3DBMD recording part. The index attached latest 3DBMD 115 hasan index data part at its header in the data format for storing the datawith its editing procedure completed, which allows to review thecontents of the 3DBMD without reading directly the latest 3DBMD. Thismakes it possible for the user to retrieve promptly his or her desireddata by viewing a list of index data even if the user has already storednumerous 3DBMD's. In addition, for the data potentially to be unused forthe future editing operations, the overall volume of data can be reducedmuch more than the case in which the primitive 3DBMD's not possible tobe used later are stored together.

After the editing operations, the user stores the index attached latest3DBMD 115 and completes the editing operations.

What described above is a procedural flow in which the user edits the3DBMD obtained by capturing the image of the object by X-ray CT andobtains his or her desired image.

Now, the display screen of the index data is described next.

FIG. 6 illustrates a history display screen in case that a list of theindex data 106 is displayed in terms of its procedural operation historyand operation content. The history display screen 10 presentshierarchically the individual step of operations and the individual partof decomposed images. The history display screen shows the contents ofthe operations at the individual steps for the primitive 3DBMD to thelatest 3DBMD. Each of the contents is recorded as the index data 106.The use can select the operation displayed on the screen by using thepointer 11 with the mouse or the arrow keys of the keyboard. The detailof the operation content and the index data corresponding to the imageafter applying the designated operation can be displayed by specifyingthe operation step. The history display screen 10 includes the button 12a for directing the data display command, the button 12 b for directingthe reprocessing and display command, and the button 12 c for closingthe screen.

The user may select the operation step and press the reprocessing anddisplay button. In response to this user's action, the data processingunit 3 a applies the procedural operation history data 105 covering theprocedures up to the selected operation to the primitive 3DBMD, and thendisplays the rendered image on the screen.

FIG. 7 illustrates a list display screen 13 in case of displaying a listof index data 106 as images. The list display screen 13 displays theimages retrieved as the index data obtained after applying thedesignated operations to the primitive 3DBMD to the latest 3BMD. Theuser can select the images on the screen by using the pointer 11 withthe mouse or the arrow keys of the keyboard. The background color of theselected image 14 is made change so as to be distinguished from others,which makes the user recognize its selection status. The selected image14 may contain the detail of the corresponding operation content, or itsselected and magnified view may be displayed. The list display screen 13includes the button 12 a for directing the index data display command,the button 12 b for directing the reprocessing and display command, andthe button 12 c for closing the screen. In case that the selected imagecan not displayed in a single screen, the user may use the button 12 dfor requesting to display its whole image in a reduced scale, and theprevious-screen button 12 e and the next-screen button 12 f forscrolling the pages covering the whole image.

The user may select the operation step and press the reprocessing anddisplay button. In response to this user's action, the data processingunit 3 a applies the procedural operation history data 105 covering theprocedures up to the selected operation to the primitive 3DBMD, and thendisplays the rendered image on the screen.

FIG. 8 illustrates the input device 2 and the display device 4. Thedisplay device 4 is connected to the input device 2, and the userviewing the display screen 4 operates the input device. The input device2 is composed of the keyboard 16 a, the arrow keys 16 b and the mouse 16c. The keyboard 16 a is used for accepting the numerical data input andthe command input, the arrow keys 16 b are used for specifying the image14 selected in the images displayed on the screen and the mouse 16 c isused for selecting the images and the operations along with the movementof the pointer 11.

According to the above described three-dimensional bit map dataprocessing, by using the 3DBMD having the index data, the time spent fordisplaying the index data can be made shorter than the time spent forrendering the 3DBMD and displaying the rendered image, and thus the timespent for confirming the content of the 3DBMD can be reduced.

In addition, by storing the history of operations applied to the 3DBMD,a designated steps of operations can be replayed and an arbitrary statebackward from the completed 3DBMD can be restored. This means that theundo operation can be applied to the completed 3DBMD.

By storing the 3DBMD before image operations, the 3DBMD after imageoperations, the procedural operation history data and the index data,the content of the data can be confirmed when restarting the operation.In addition, after confirming the content of the data, the operation forthe completed 3DBMD can be restarted. In case of reprocessing the 3DBMDprocessed before the completed 3DBMD, by applying partially theoperations recorded in the procedural operation history data to thecompleted 3DBMD, the 3DBMD traced backward from the completed 3DBMD canbe generated. By applying the image operations to this traced-back3DBMD, the steps experienced up to the completed 3DBMD can bereattempted.

In this embodiment, the data formats for the primitive, index andprocedural operation history 3DBMD, the index and procedural operationhistory 3DBMD and the index attached latest 3DBMD define the sequence ofthe index data, the procedural operation history data, the primitive3DBMD and the latest 3DBMD, which may not be required to be arrangedphysically and sequentially in the order specified by the data format onthe surface of the recording media (for example, the surface of the harddisk in the hard disk recording device) but may be accessed logically inthis specified order by the recording device. In addition, even if atleast one part of the index data, the procedural operation history data,the primitive 3DBMD and the latest 3DBMD might be recorded physically ina separate recording device, it is allowed to access and readout thedesignated data logically in this specified order. And furthermore, itis allowed to read out the individual data separately and arrange themin a random access memory so that the data may be ready to be accessiblein the random access memory on demand.

The data format for the index attached latest 3DBMD can be used forstoring large volume CAD data. Though it is not required to applying therendering processing to the CAD data for generating its display image,as the large volume CAD data requires an extended period of time forreading in the data and performing complicated topological calculationsfor generating images, it takes a long period of time to display theimages as is the case with the latest 3DBMD. The images can be displayedrapidly by recording the index data at the header of the data contents.In this case, the data format of the index data does not require thetopological calculations.

FIG. 17 shows the data format 120 for the index three-dimensional CADdata. The latest three-dimensional CAD data is recorded after the indexdata 122.

Embodiment 2

This embodiment uses a scale-down 3DBMD in stead of the index data 106used in the embodiment 1.

At first the sample is scanned by the three-dimensional X-ray CT. Thecaptured data is stored as the primitive 3DBMD in the memory device (ahard disk in this embodiment).

Next, the primitive 3DBMD is made converted into the 3DBMD in thisembodiment. FIG. 13 shows an example of the 3DBMD data format having thescale-down 3DBMD in this embodiment.

The scale-down and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD 115 shownin FIG. 13(A) has a scale-down 3DBMD recording part at the data headerfollowed by a procedural operation history data recording part, and theprimitive 3DBMD recording part is recorded at the aftermost part. Thescale-down 3DBMD is a reduced data of the 3DBMD obtained by applying theprocessing directed in the procedural operation history data to theprimitive 3DBMD (namely the reduction of the latest 3DBMD). As the datavolume of the scale-down 3DBMD is smaller than the data volume of the3DBMD, the time spent for reproducing the final display image is shortin case of applying the rendering process. Therefore, the time spent forconfirming the outline of the latest 3DBMD can be made shorter. As thescale-down 3DBMD is based on the 3DBMD, the operations for rotating andcutting the object can be applied to the data. The time spent for thoseoperations can be extremely shorter than the case in which the sameoperations are applied to the latest 3DBMD. Therefore, the operations bythe users to be applied to the latest 3DBMD may be applied preliminarilyto the scale-down 3DBMD and then the outline of the operations' resultcan be confirmed. Now that the outline of the operations' result isconfirmed, the same operations already confirmed can be applied to thelatest 3DBMD. In case of applying the image processing to the largeamount of data (such as the latest 3DBMD and the primitive 3DBMD), everystep of procedures in the overall processing requires a long period oftime (which may require the user to wait for ten minutes and a fewminutes, which leaves the user on such a halfway as he or she can notleave the seat for expecting the result but he or she have to waitpatiently forgetting the result), and thus the user have to assume theresponse time. Therefore, if one step of the processing is held untilits prior step of the processing is completed, the overall response timemakes extremely long. On the contrary, by means that, after theindividual results in the plural steps of the processing are confirmedwith their scale-down 3DBMD, the image processing steps recorded in theprocedural operation history data and the first-time image processingsteps are applied altogether, the user can do other jobs while waitingfor the completion of applying the image processing to the primitive3DBMD. Thus, the processing for the large volume 3DBMD can be performedefficiently. As the 3DBMD before the latest 3DBMD can be generated byusing the primitive 3DBMD and the procedural operation history data inthe similar manner to the embodiment 1, undo operations can be enabled.

The primitive, scale-down and procedural operation history attached3DBMD 115 shown in FIG. 13(B) has a data format for recording theprimitive 3DBMD together when recording the processed latest 3DBMD. Thisdata format has a scale-down 3DBMD recording part of the latest 3DBMD atthe data header followed by the latest 3DBMD recording part, and aprocedural operation history data recording part and a primitive 3DBMDrecording part is recorded at the aftermost part. The scale-down 3DBMDis updated every time when the latest 3DBMD is modified. The proceduraloperation history data records the steps of the processing performedfrom the primitive 3DBMD to the latest 3DBMD. According to this dataformat, the user can confirm the outline of the latest 3DBMD by viewingthe scale-down 3DBMD. In case of attempting to regenerate the latest3DBMD (when undo the past processing applied to the latest 3DBMD), thedesired 3DBMD to be obtained by applying the undo operation for the pastprocessing can be generated equivalently by applying the proceduraloperation history data corresponding to the designated step to theseries of past procedures to the primitive 3DBMD by referring to theprimitive 3DBMD and the procedural operation history data. In addition,the operations by the users to be applied to the latest 3DBMD may beapplied preliminarily to the scale-down 3DBMD and then the outline ofthe operations' result can be confirmed. Therefore, by means that, afterthe individual results in the plural steps of the processing areconfirmed with their scale-down 3DBMD, the first-time image processingsteps are applied altogether, the user can do other jobs while waitingfor the completion of applying the image processing to the primitive3DBMD. Thus, the processing for the large volume 3DBMD can be performedefficiently. As the latest 3DBMD is recorded, a faster processing can beperformed rather than the case in which the latest 3DBMD is generated byusing the primitive 3DBMD and the procedural operation history data andthen the first-time processing is applied to the latest 3DBMD.

By referring to FIG. 14, a method for generating the scale-down 3DBMDfrom the primitive 3DBMD (or the latest 3DBMD) is described below. Forbrief explanation, two-dimensional bit map data is used. This method canbe applied equivalently to the 3DBMD in principle.

At first, the scale-down factor n is defined. Next, the primitive 3DBMDis loaded, and the size of the scale-down 3DBMD is determined bymultiplying the size of the primitive 3DBMD and the inverse number ofthe scale-down factor n. Next, the pixel groups P₁ to P_(n), each having{square root over (n)}×{square root over (n)} pixels, in the primitive3DBMS are considered. Those pixel groups P₁ to P_(n) are degeneratedinto a single pixel P′, and the pixel value (color) V(P′) of P′ iscalculated from the pixel value (color) of the individual pixels in theprimitive 3DBMD as follows.

V(P′)=V(P ₁)+V(P ₂)+ . . . +V(P _(n))/n

The above value is calculated for the individual pixel, and thescale-down 3DBMD 18 is generated. In this embodiment, this calculationis performed by the data processing device in response to the commanddirected by the user.

The large volume 3DBMD captured by the X-ray CT is converted into thescale-down 3DBMD by this method, and the scale-down 3DBMD is appended atthe top of the large volume 3DBMD. At this step, the proceduraloperation history in the scale-down and procedural operation historyattached 3DBMD 116 is initialized to be empty. Thereafter every timewhen the image processing are performed, the procedural operationhistory is added to the procedural operation history data. In case thatthe user prefers the data recording in the format for the primitive,scale-down and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD 116 b, thedata is recorded in the format for the primitive, scale-down andprocedural operation history attached 3DBMD 116 b by storing thescale-down and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD 115 with itsdata sequence reversed together with the processed 3DBMD.

Next, FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of the structure of the3DBMD processing system using two formats for the 3DBMD as describedabove. As the major parts of this system is the same as the embodiment1, those like parts are not described below.

In this embodiment, the storage device 502 is so configured as toincludes individually the 3DBMD recording device 5 a, the primitive,scale-down and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD recordingdevice 5 e, the scale-down and procedural operation history attached3DBMD recording device 5 f and the scale-down attached latest 3DBMDrecording device 5 g, but the storage device 502 may be formedalternatively in another configuration as far as recording thoseelements of data. The electronic computer 503 is so configured as toinclude individually the data processing device 3 a and the scale-downthree-dimensional bit map processing device 3 b, each corresponding totheir specific tasks, which may be formed as a single computerperforming those tasks.

The 3DBMD processing system 1 c is a system which uses the scale-down3DBMD instead of the index data 106 in the 3DBMD processing system 1 a.The 3DBMD processing system 1 c is formed by removing the index datadisplay means 7 a and the index data selection means 8 in the 3DBMDprocessing system 1 a and adding the scale-down 3DBMD processing unit 3b for applying the image processing to the scale-down 3DBMD 106 inresponse to the scale-down 3DBMD processing command 101 b. Itsindividual recording devices stores the scale-down 3DBMD instead of theindex data. Those recording devices include the primitive, scale-downand procedural operation history attached 3DBMD recording device 5 e forrecording the primitive, scale-down and procedural operation historyattached 3DBMD 116 b, the scale-down and procedural operation historyattached 3DBMD recording device 5 f for recording the scale-down andprocedural operation history attached 3DBMD 116, and the scale-down andlatest 3DBMD recording device 5 g for recording the scale-down andlatest 3DBMD 116 c.

Next, the procedural flow performed by the 3DBMD processing system 1 cfor editing the 3DBMD having the scale-down down 3DBMD is described. Itsprocedural flow is shown in FIG. 12. The data format used in thisembodiment is a format for the primitive, scale-down and proceduraloperation history attached 3DBMD. This procedure can be also applied tothe data format for the scale-down and procedural operation historyattached 3DBMD.

At first, in response to the load command 201 input by the user, theinput device 2 sends the 3DBMD display command 108 b to the scale-down3DBMD processing device 3 b. In response this display command, thescale-down 3DBMD processing device 3 b reads the scale-down 3DBMD 106 bfrom the primitive, scale-down and procedural operation history attached3DBMD recording device 5 e (Step 202 f). The scale-down 3BMD processingunit 3 b renders the scale-down 3DBMD 106 in accordance with the defaultparameters and then sends its result to the scale-down 3DBMD displayimage data 109 b to the display device. The display device displays thescale-down 3DBMD display image data 109 b (step 220). The defaultparameters are put into the system by the user prior to his or her workfor specifying the display format and the visual angle when displayingthe scale-down 3DBMD 106 b for confirming the data contents, and if theuser does not define those parameter values explicitly, the parameterspreloaded at the system generation or installation are used.

Next, the scale-down 3DBMD 106 is processed. In response to theprocedural command provided by the user, the input device 2 sends thescale-down 3DBMD processing command 101 b to the scale-down 3DBMDprocessing device 3 b (Step 221). In response to this command, thescale-down 3DBMD processing device 3 b applies the image processing tothe scale-down 3DBMD 106 b (Step 222). This image processing includesrotation, decomposition and partial extraction operations.

Next, the scale-down 3DBMD processing device 3 b generates thescale-down 3DBMD display image data 109 b for the processed scaled-down3DBMD 106 b and transfers the data to the display device, and thedisplay device displays the data (Step 223). The scale-down 3DBMDdisplay image data 109 b generates the procedural operation history data105 and stores it in the memory (not shown) in the scale-down 3DBMDprocessing device 3 b (or installed outside the scale-down 3DBMDprocessing device 3 b).

As the scale-down 3DBMD is a small-size bit map data, the time spent forprocessing the scale-down 3DBMD is very short. This data has such a dataformat advantageous to the user by processing directly the scale-down3DBMD as the time spent for processing the scale-down 3DBMD is veryshort while even though the result of the processing the large volume3DBMD (including the primitive 3DBMD and the latest 3DBMD) can beconfirmed briefly.

The user repeats the procedures from the step 221 through the step 210,and then identifies the procedural command providing a designatedprocessing result.

The user, identifying the procedural command for his or her desiredprocessing result (stored in the memory in the scale-down 3DBMDprocessing device 3 b as the procedural operation history data 105),inputs the 3DBMD processing determination command (Step 224). Inresponse to this command, the data processing device 3 a reads in thelatest 3DBMD 103 from the primitive, scale-down and procedural operationhistory attached 3DBMD recording device 5 e (Step 202 e). In case ofusing the scale-down and procedural operation history attached 3DBMD 116as data, the same procedure as processed with the primitive, scale-downand procedural operation history attached 3DBMD 116 b may be applied bygenerating the latest 3DBMD 103 from the primitive 3DBMD 102 and theprocedural operation history data 105. The scale-down 3DBMD processingdevice 3 b sends the procedural operation history data 105 stored in thememory to the data processing device 3 a as the procedural command 101a.

Next, the data processing device 3 a applies the procedural command 101a to the latest 3DBMD 103 (Step 204) and generates the latest 3DBMD 103(Step 205). In case of executing plural procedural commands all at once,a given period of time is required. In this case, the user may leave thescene of his or her work and can be involved another job.

Now that the latest 3DBMD 103 is generated, the user inputs the displaycommand 208. In response to the display command 208, the data processingdevice 3 a renders the latest 3DBMD 103 and generates the 3DBMD displayimage data and sends it to the display device. The display devicedisplays the 3DBMD display image data and the user confirms thedisplayed image.

The user, confirming the displayed image, determines whether furtherimage processing is applied again to the scale-down 3DBMD 106 b or anyimage processing is applied directly to the latest 3DBMD 103. In case ofprocessing further the scale-down 3DBMD 106 b, the procedural step goesback to the scale-down 3DBMD processing command input 221. In case ofprocessing directly the latest 3DBMD 103, the procedural steps describedin the next paragraph are applied. A direct processing of the latest3DBMD 103 is used, for example, in case of modifying the resultant errorbetween the latest 3DBMD and the processed scale-down 3DBMD 106 b.

At first, the user inputs the procedural command 203. In response tothis command, the input device sends the data processing command 101 ato the data processing device 3 a. The data processing device 3 a sendsthe same procedural request to the scale-down 3DBMD processing device 3b as the scale-down 3DMD processing command 101 b. The scale-down 3DBMDprocessing device 3 b applies the scale-down 3DMD processing command 101b to the scale-down 3DBMD 106 b, and then displays the scale-down 3DBMD106 b and generates the procedural operation history data 105. At thesame time, the data processing device 3 a applies the data processingcommand 101 a to the latest 3DBMD 103 (Step 204). In this case, itshould be noted that the time spent for processing the scale-down 3DBMD106 b is shorter than the time spent for processing the latest 3DBMD103. Therefore, the user can review and study primarily the resultobtained by processing the scale-down 3DBMD 106 b.

Now that the user obtains his or her desired latest 3DBMD 103 at the endof the above procedures, the user inputs the save command 206. At thesame time, the user selects the format to be used for storing the data.This format defines the scale-down and procedural operation historyattached 3DBMD 115, the primitive, scale-down and procedural operationhistory attached 3DBMD 115 b or the scale-down attached and latest 3DBMD116 c.

The format for the scale-down attached and latest 3DBMD 116 c isdescribed here. As shown in FIG. 13(c), the format for the scale-downattached and latest 3DBMD 116 c has the scale-down 3DBMD at its headerfollowed by the latest 3DBMD. The format for the scale-down attached andlatest 3DBMD 115 c is aimed for storing the data with its editingprocess completed, which allows the user to understand briefly thecontents of the 3DBMD without reading the latest 3DBMD for viewing thedata. Therefore, even in case that the user stores a number of 3DBMD, itwill be appreciated that the user can retrieve his or her desired datarapidly by browsing a list of displayed scale-down 3DBMD. As the datasize of the scale-down 3DBMD is small, the time spent for rendering, ifany, might be very short. In addition, as the scale-down 3DBMD has a fewpossibility to be edited later, its data volume can be reduced much morethan the case of recording its data together with the primitive 3DBMDnot possible to be edited.

The latest 3DBMD is arranged in the format selected by the user andrecorded in the recording device specific to the individual data format.The scale-down attached and latest 3DBMD 115 c is recorded in thescale-down attached and latest 3DBMD recording device 5 g.

At the end of the above editing procedures, the use stores the data andcompletes his or her editing work.

What described above is a procedural flow for editing the 3DBMD obtainedby capturing the image of the object with X-ray CT in order to providethe output data in the format specified by the user. Next, the displayscreen for the scale-down 3DBMD is described. The component 24 [FIG. 15]shows a data processing and display screen for the scale-down 3DBMD inthis embodiment. The scale-down 3DBMD processing and display screen 19includes the rendered image 20 of the scale-down 3DBMD, the orientationindicator 21 allowing the user to recognize visually his or her sightdirection, and the command selection panel 22, and the user can operatesthe scale-down 3DBMD by using the mouse, the keyboard and its arrowkeys.

FIG. 16 shows a file manager screen. FIG. 16 shows a file manager screenincluding the area for displaying the outline of the data and the areafor displaying a list of file names. A window area 23 is shown at theleft side of the screen and shows the image obtained by rendering thescale-down 3DBMD. The window area 22 is also shown for displaying a listof file names. The windows area 23 presents rendered images of thescale-down 3DBMD 106 b with their file names specified by the user usinga mouse on the window area 22. The user can perform his or heroperations in every window area by using a mouse, a keyboard and itsarrow keys.

According to this embodiment, the same effect as brought by theembodiment 1 can be attained. In addition, by processing the data havingthe scale-down 3DBMD, the same process can be applied to the scale-down3DBMD before processing the latest 3DBMD. As the time spent forprocessing the scale-down 3DBMD is shorter than the time spent forprocessing the latest 3DBMD, the outline of the processing result can beconfirmed in a shorter period of time than the case of applying theprocessing directly to the latest 3DBMD.

Embodiment 3

Next, a business for providing the 3DBMD by using the 3DBMD described inthe embodiments 1 and 2 is described. FIG. 18 shows a procedural flow ofthe 3DBMD provider service. In this embodiment, the following partiesare concerned to one another; a service user A receiving the 3DBMD(generally, a corporate user), a service provider company C providingthe 3DBMD, a transportation service company B delivering the targetobject from the service user A to the service provider company C, and animage capturing service company D (generally, operated by the serviceprovider company C as its subsidiary business) capturing the image ofthe target object by using the X-ray CT apparatus. Their business flowis described below.

The service user A commits the service purchase order A1, and aftertransferring the order AC1 to the service provider company C, theservice user A completes the specification confirmation A2 by exchanginginformation at the business meeting or mails AC2 (a mail means either ofan e-mail or a postal mail) with the service provider company C. Theservice provider company C completes the specification confirmations C1and D1 by exchanging information at the business meeting or mails CD1about the specification AC1 with the image capturing service company D.After completing the specification confirmation D1, the image capturingservice company D judges (at D2) whether the image capturing with theconfirmed specification is possible or not, and if the image capturingwill not be scheduled, the image capturing rejection notification CD2 issent to the service provider company C. The service provider company C,receiving the image capturing rejection notification CD2, sends theorder rejection notification AC3 to the service user A, and the overallflow is completed when the service user A confirms (A3) the orderrejection notification AC3.

In case that the image capturing service company D sends the imagecapturing acceptance notification CD3 to the service provider company C,the service provider company C commits the order acceptance procedureC3, and sends the order document AC4 to the service user A. In thiscase, the order acceptance procedure C3 is a procedure for notifying theservice provider A the fact that the purchase order is acceptable.

After confirming (A4) the order document AC4, the service user A commitsthe purchase order procedure A5. The service user fills out the orderdocument at the purchase order procedure A5. Next, the service user Areturns the order document to the service provider company C (AC5). Theservice provider company C, receiving the order document, commits theorder acceptance and the image capturing arrangement C4. At this point,the service provider company C commits the request BC1 to thetransportation service company B for picking up the target object at theservice user A.

After completing the reception B1, the transportation service company Btransports the target object from the service user A (AD1 and B2) to theservice provider company B. The service provider company C receives thetarget object, and then transfer the target object to the imagecapturing service company D (C5). The image capturing service company Dreceives the target object (D3), and commits the CT image capturing D4in accordance with the specification. The captured image data isgenerated by the image capturing (D5), and the captured image data issent to the service provider company C (D5, CD4). The service providercompany C receives the captured image data (C6), and generates (C7) thepreview data (the index data 106 or the scale-down 3DBMD 106 b) with themethod shown in the embodiment 1 or 2. The preview data attached 3DBMDand the captured image data are sent to the service user A (AC7). Theservice user A receives the data (A7) and commits the acceptanceinspection (A8).

At this point, the data volume of the captured image data, the latest3DBMD and the primitive 3DBMD is very large. Therefore, instead oftransferring the preview data attached 3DBMD and the captured image datato the service user A, only the preview data may be sent to the serviceuser A first of all. As the service user A can understand the outline ofthe latest 3DBMD from the preview data, if further editions to beapplied to the latest 3DBMD are required, the service user A sends hisor her request to the service provider company and then the serviceprovider sends the latest 3DBMD with necessary editions applied to theservice user A.

If the preview data is the scale-down 3DBMD 106 b, the service user Acan recognize the necessary processes to be applied to the primitive3DBMD by processing the scale-down 3DBMD 106 b. The service user A sendsits processing contents to the service provider C, and the serviceprovider C applies this processing to the primitive 3DBMD 102. Finally,the service provider sends its result as the preview data attached 3DBMDto the service user A.

According to the above procedures, the volume of the data to be sentfrom the volume of data sent from the service provider to the serviceuser after capturing the image can be reduced. Owing to this, it will beappreciated that the service provider can provide the service user withhis or her desired data more rapidly than the first transmission of thecaptured image data. In addition, it will be appreciated that theservice provider commits the processing to the large volume of 3DBMD allat once. Therefore, even in case that the service user does not have asystem for processing the large volume of 3DBMD, the service user canget the resultant data obtained by processing the large volume of 3DBMD.

The image capturing service company D returns the target object to theservice provider company C after completing the image capturing (D6).The service provider company C carries the target object back to theservice user through the transportation service company B (C8, B3). Theservice provider company C, completing the shipment of the target objectto the service user A, sends the invoice with money transfer slip forthe payment invoice C9 to the service user A (AC8).

The service user A, receiving the captured image data (A7) and receivingthe returned target object (A9), receives the invoice with moneytransfer slip and then commits the charge transfer A10 to the specifiedbank account AC10 (C11).

Embodiment 4

Next, a business for providing the process for the 3DBMD by using the3DBMD described in the embodiments 1 and 2 is described. FIG. 19 shows aprocedural flow of the 3DBMD provider service in this embodiment. Whatwill be described are the individual business flows by the service userA (generally, a corporate user) holding the original data of the 3DBMDand asking its image processing and the service provider company Cproviding the image processing to the 3DBMD.

The service user A commits the service purchase order A1. Aftertransferring this.order AC1 to the service provider company C, theservice user completes the specification confirmation A2 by exchanginginformation at the business meeting or mails AC2 with the serviceprovider company C. The service provider company, receiving the orderdocument AC4, identifies the order (A4) and commits the purchase order(A5). Then, the order document AC5 is returned to the service providercompany C, and at the same time, the original data (3DBMD)AC11 isforwarded (A6). Receiving the preview data or the preview attached 3DBMDAC7 (A7), the service user commits the acceptance inspection A8 andtransfers the payment AC9 to the specified bank account AC10 in responseto the invoice with money transfer slip AC8 from the service providercompany C, and finally all the transactions are completed.

Next, a business flow by the service provider company C is described.The service provider, receiving the order AC1 from the service user A,commits the order confirmation (C1) by exchanging information at thebusiness meeting or mails (AC), and then commits the order acceptanceprocedure C3. The service provider company sends the order document AC4to the service user A, and commits the order acceptance C4 in responsiveto the returned order document AC5. The service provider company,receiving the original data (3DBMD) from the service user A, makes thepreview data (index data 106 or scale-down 3DBMD 106 b) of this originaldata by respecting the specification requirement by the service user A.Next, the preview data or the preview-attached 3DBMD AC7 is retuned tothe service user A (C7). As in the embodiment 3, it is allowed to sendthe preview data to the service user at first and next send the largevolume of 3DBMD to the service user after the service user identifiesthe result of the processing to be applied to the original data. Theservice user A can predict the result of the processing applied to theoriginal data to some extent, but he or she can not confirms its resultcompletely. In case that the service user A, receiving the preview data,recognizes it to be different from his or her expectation, by means thatthe service provider C attempts to apply alternative processing to theoriginal data until the desired result can be obtained as in thisembodiment, the data volume to be exchanged between the service user Aand the service provider can be reduced much more than the large volumeof 3DBMD is exchanged directly between them.

After the service user A confirms the contents of the processed data,the service provider sends the invoice with money transfer slip AC8 andcommits the payment invoice C9. Finally, the service provider confirms(C10) that the service user A transfers the.payment AC9 to the specifiedbank account AC10, and then completes the transaction.

According to the above embodiment, in dealing large amount ofthree-dimensional bit map data such as the primitive 3DBMD and thelatest 3DBMD, it will be appreciated that the time spent for processinglarge amount of bit map data can be reduced by adding the data allowingthe service user to identify easily the result of the processing to beapplied to the original data.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data processing method comprising: a step ofapplying a plurality of processes for three-dimensional bit map data,recording information relating to a history of said processes, andrendering respective three-dimensional bit map data after said pluralityof processes to generate a plurality of two-dimensional image data; anda step of displaying a list of said plurality of two-dimensional imagedata and processing said three-dimensional bit map data based oninformation relating to said history of said processes of saidthree-dimensional bit map data corresponding to two-dimensional imagedata selected in said list.
 2. A data processing method of claim 1,wherein said three-dimensional bit map data is captured by X-ray CT. 3.A data processing method comprising a step for accepting an order forcapturing an image by X-ray CT from a client; a step for receiving animage—capturing target object from said client; a step for forming athree-dimensional bit data by capturing said target object by said X-rayCT according to client's request; a step for forming at least either ofa scale-down three-dimensional bit map data generated by scaling downsaid three-dimensional bit map data or a two-dimensional bit map datagenerated by rendering and scaling down or rendering saidthree-dimensional bit map data; a step for sending at least either ofsaid formed scale-down three-dimensional bit map data or said formedtwo-dimensional bit map data; and a step for sending saidthree-dimensional bit map data to said client after establishingclient's confirmation of said sent data.
 4. A data processing methodcomprising a step for asking a service provider to capture an image of asample by X-ray CT; a step for sending said sample to said serviceprovider; a step for receiving at least one of data formed by saidservice provider, said data including a scale-down three-dimensional bitmap data obtained by scaling down a three-dimensional bit map datacaptured by said service provider, a first index data obtained byrendering said three-dimensional bit map data and a second index dataobtained by rendering and further scaling down said three-dimensionalbit map data; a step for confirming an image capturing result based on acontent of data; a step for replying said confirmation result to saidservice provider; a step for accepting said three-dimensional bit mapdata from said service provider if said confirmation result isaffirmative; and a step for requesting said service provider torecapture or reprocess said three-dimensional bit map data if saidconfirmation result is negative.